Patriots, Eagles both keep undefeated records in tact

The Associated Press

Published Monday, October 25, 2004

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ARIZONA RUNNING BACK EMMITT SMITH, left, and Seattle's Jerry Rice greet each other at the end of their game on Sunday at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Smith ran for his 78th career 100-yard game passing Walter Payton for the all-time NFL record for most ever 100 yard games.

AP Photo CLEVELAND -- David Akers kicked a 50-yard field goal in overtime and Donovan McNabb matched a career high with four touchdown passes -- two to Terrell Owens -- as the Eagles remained unbeaten. Akers' kick barely cleared the crossbar in front of Cleveland's Dawg Pound with 5:02 remaining in OT as the Eagles (6-0) continued their best start since 1981.

They survived their stiffest test by far this season from the Browns (3-4), who made as many big plays as the Eagles.

McNabb finished 28-of-43 for 376 yards, but set up Akers' game-winner with a 28-yard run.

Owens, whose feud with Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia -- his former San Francisco teammate -- dominated the pregame hype, had four catches for 109 yards.

Patriots 13, Jets 7

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Rodney Harrison broke up a fourth-down pass by Chad Pennington with 2:14 remaining, and the Patriots extended their NFL-record victory streak to 21 games, including playoffs.

The Patriots also set the regular-season mark of 18 straight wins, surpassing the 17 won by the 1933-34 Chicago Bears. They moved to 6-0 for the first time in franchise history while handing the Jets (5-1) their first loss this season.

It was the first matchup of unbeatens with five or more wins since 1973. The game turned into a defensive struggle in the second half.

Packers 41, Cowboys 20

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- With coach-general manager Mike Sherman directing the offense for the second straight game, the Packers scored on their first seven possessions. The Packers (3-4) snapped a three-game losing streak at Lambeau Field and Brett Favre beat the Cowboys (2-4) for just the second time in 10 tries.

Ahman Green ended a monthlong funk by rushing for 163 yards and two scores, including a 90-yarder in the third quarter. He became the second player in NFL history with two career touchdown runs of at least 90 yards, joining Bo Jackson, who did it in 1987.

Green, who had a 98-yarder last December, also set a franchise record with his 27th 100-yard game, breaking Jim Taylor's record.

Cardinals 25, Seahawks 17

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Emmitt Smith ran his way to another NFL record and Neil Rackers booted himself into a share of one.

Smith sealed Arizona's victory with a 23-yard scoring run, breaking Walter Payton's record with 78 100-yard rushing games. Rackers was good from 55, 55 and 50 yards to tie Morten Andersen's record for most field goals of at least 50 yards in a game.

Matt Hasselbeck was just 14-of-41 and was intercepted four times and the Seahawks (3-3) lost their third in a row, blowing a chance to take sole possession of first place in the NFC West.

Smith, who broke Payton's career rushing yardage mark two years ago, gained 106 yards on 26 carries, his second 100-yard effort in three games for Arizona (2-4).

Saints 31, Raiders 26

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Deuce McAllister ran for two short touchdowns, Aaron Brooks threw for 282 yards and a touchdown, and New Orleans ended a three-game losing streak.

Joe Horn had nine receptions for 123 yards, and Jerome Pathon added six catches as the Saints (3-4) used a strong second half to send the Raiders to their fourth straight defeat.

John Carney kicked a 41-yard field goal with 4:31 left, then Colby Bockwoldt scooped up Carlos Francis' fumble on the ensuing kickoff and ran it 6 yards for another Saints score.

Sanders returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown and also picked off a pass in the end zone, and Chad Williams went 94 yards with another interception as the Ravens (4-2) sputtered offensively but took advantage of five turnovers by the punchless Bills (1-5).

Chiefs 56, Falcons 10

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Priest Holmes sprained his ankle early in the second half, so Derrick Blaylock scored the other half of Kansas City's NFL-record eight touchdowns rushing.

Shredding what had been the NFL's leading rushing defense, Holmes and Blaylock each scored four times on the ground. Holmes scored on runs of 1, 2, 2 and 15 yards during a 35-0 first-half blitz. He was stopped just a couple of feet short of what would have been his fifth TD rushing for the Chiefs (2-4).

Holmes, who set the NFL record last year with 27 touchdowns rushing, then left with a mild ankle sprain.

Holmes tied the NFL mark with four TDs rushing in one half.

Those touchdowns also broke the record for most in a game against the Falcons (5-2), who came in leading the NFL with 74.5 yards rushing allowed per game.

Vikings 20, Titans 3

MINNEAPOLIS -- With the injured Randy Moss relegated to two snaps of decoy duty, Daunte Culpepper and the Vikings shifted gears and grind out a win.

Culpepper completed 24 of 30 mostly low-risk passes, and an aggressive Vikings (5-1) defense knocked quarterback Steve McNair out of the game for the Titans (2-5) when he reinjured his chest.

Lions 28, Giants 13

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- After going three years without winning on the road, the Lions seem unbeatable away from the Motor City.

Joey Harrington threw two touchdown passes and Chris Cash made a diving interception in the end zone late in the first half to lead the Lions (4-2), who won their third straight away game.,

Kevin Jones scored on a 2-yard run and Artose Pinner iced the game with an 8-yard TD run as the Lions snapped a four-game winning streak for the Giants (4-2).

Chargers 17, Panthers 6

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- LaDainian Tomlinson scored on a 8-yard run and Jesse Chatman added a 5-yard scoring run with 1:42 to play to lift San Diego (4-3), which equaled its win total from last season.

It was a disheartening loss for Carolina (1-5). The defending NFC champions have lost four straight.

Keenan McCardell, acquired by the Chargers on Tuesday in a trade with Tampa Bay, finished with 65 yards on five catches.